Tubert, Razorbacks win

BY ANDRES FOCIL

Tubert, a Burbank, Calif., native, led wire-to-wire as did the Razorbacks for the team title. Tubert’s victory is the second of three events this fall as she paced Arkansas with three players in the top spots this week.

Arkansas finished the event with an 846 to win the team title.

"It was a great day for Razorback golf again today," Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said. "We got off to a great start and it was a total team effort. I’ve said many times this is a special team and I think that showed again this week.

"Sometimes the hardest tournaments to win are the ones in which you have a big lead," Estes-Taylor continued. "Conditions were very tough today with 30 mile-per-hour cross winds and you can tell that by the scores."

Tubert finished play with a two-over 74 concluding the event with a school record 205. The three-day total includes a first-round school record 63, along with a 68-74. It betters the previous record of 207 held by former Razorback All-American Stacy Lewis.

"Emily is just taking care of business," Estes-Taylor said. "She is soaking in everything we’re teaching her and putting it into play on the golf course. She did an awesome job. It’s a fantastic start for a freshman to win two of her first three collegiate tournaments. It’s an indication of what’s to come for this young lady."

Senior Kelli Shean tied for second overall. Shean carded a 210 for the three-day event with rounds of 70-67-73 finishing six-under.

Shean tied Razorback teammate senior Corinna Rees for second place. The finish is the best ever for Rees in a collegiate event. The Pebble Beach, Calif., native carded her career-best round with a 67 Tuesday finishing with a 210. Her numbers included rounds of 74-67-69. Her final round was one of just two in the 60s Wednesday.

"Corinna and Kelli…what can I say," said Estes-Taylor. "Corinna had a heck of a golf tournament. She did a fantastic job of ball-striking and made some putts this week. To shoot 69 in these conditions was just amazing.

"Kelli has played her heart out in the last 12 days," Estes-Taylor added. "She has so much heart and really played like a champion."

Meagan Roberts, competing as an individual, tied for 76th with a 235 (82-73-80).

"Victoria and Emma ham-and-egged it really well," Estes-Taylor said. "They were solid and were part of a great team effort."

As a team, the Razorback win was almost sealed in the first round when Arkansas carded a then-school record 277, 11-under par at the Boulder Creek Golf Club.

Arkansas bettered that with a record-setting 276 on Tuesday before finishing with 293 and a 23 stroke win in the final round. The Razorbacks had or tied for the lowest round each day of the tournament.

"I’m so proud of this group and of how hard they work," Estes-Taylor said. "They are dedicated to each other and to our team goals. They went out and took care of business."

Twenty-sixth-ranked Kent State rallied in the second round moving up to a runner up finish edging No. 11 Arizona on the final day. Kent State finished with an 869 followed by the Wildcats with 872.

The rest of the top 10 included No. 35 Louisville and No. 33 Washington tied for fourth with 876, No. 25 Oregon and No. 43 Minnesota tied for sixth with 877, Missouri in eight with 893, No. 47 East Carolina in ninth with 894 and No. 40 UNLV 10th with 895.

Arkansas plays its final fall event Nov. 5-7, at the Pac 10-SEC Challenge. For more information about Razorback women’s golf, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.